Wager 2012: Batch OneKenya KangochoThis apparently went out exclusive to Wager members - that is, it's not available for sale on their site. They also roasted (I think) 3 batches of this; I got batch 1.Classic, delicious, fruit-bomb Kenya. Actually pretty wine-like earlier on, resembling a bit of a dry pinot noir, with some additional sweetness and clarity. Over the few days I've had it, it's mellowed a bit, turning into something more reminiscent of cascara: fruity, acidic, a honey-like sweetness, and a lingering bit of spice. I've really been enjoying it on Aeropress with DISK, but the Kalita Wave brew I made over the weekend was incredibly juicy and sweet too. Really felt like a treat to get this right off the bat! Handsome must love us Wagerites haha.

I have to say, the community this time around is in full force. We'll see how long it keeps up, but lots of folks are being good about tweeting their brews @HandsomeForty, and I've already had a few folks retweet and favorite some of what I've shared. This has never happened to me in the previous wagers, and I don't think I'm sharing much more than before. It's a testament to a company acting as the moderator/provider of social interaction, rather than the focal point. I seriously love studying this program haha!

Wager 2012: Batch TwoHonduras Don MedardoWe were warned via email before shipping that this coffee is a little finicky, which I found to be true immediately. My first two brews were basically tried and true "calibration" brews that turn out well most of the time. My results were bitter, underdeveloped, while a little sweet. So, I took it to share with my local cafe brewheads, to see if we could have better success. Sure enough, the first one we tried was excellent! Brewed via Beehouse, with a Chemex white filter, the resulting cup was like honey and tangerine, with a bit of burnt sugar, and a super clean acidity. I've had a couple more since then that were spot on, via Aeropress with paper filter, and my Disk brews have been a bit more hit and miss, but still overall pretty sweet and a bit tart. It's good stuff, but you do have to know how to play with your brews to get what you want, and it probably helps to have a few different devices/methods at your disposal to figure things out.

Don Medardo will be a continuous Handsome offering, with the Twitter handle @HCR_DonMedardo, which you can follow for brew tips or news.

"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674

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